Q: Hi Ma'am, Can I know what is my legal situation if I refused to accept the rent increase? Also, as per our contract, the landlord should inform me before 60 days. What if he didn't notify me? Thanks

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been a tenant of an industrial unit since 2017. In 2022, the landlord's real estate forced extra rent on me, and without much thought, I agreed to it. In 2023, they asked for another increase just one day before the tenancy expired. At that time, I filed with RDC and the tenancy was renewed. Later, the real estate sent me an email for non-renewal for the year 2024, but since it was not an official legal notice, I filed again with RDC and deposited the cheques. Now, the real estate wants to renew with a 10% increase in rent. I received the email 6 days prior to expiry, and I informed them about the law requiring a 90-day notice as per RERA. Yes, it is a challenge for me to fight for my rights, but I am not interested in giving the real estate an undue advantage in the case of renewal. RERA should look into the facilities and amenities that the property has before granting them rights to increase the rent as per the Index. Kindly guide me!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My tenants would like to renew their tenancy contract for another year. However, property rental prices in the area of my property have increased by 30-35% in the last 12 months. As I am not a wealthy landlord (the property was purchased from my pension funds in order to provide me with an income), is it acceptable for me to increase the rent to align with current market prices when preparing the new contract? Please note that the RERA index calculator does not appear to reflect current market prices, so I am unsure of the best course of action or what my options are. For example, if the tenant does not accept the increase, am I entitled to ask them to leave at the end of their contract?

Q: Dear all, I have a question regarding my rental contract. There is an additional term stating: "The tenant agrees that the rent will increase after 2 years by 10% or as per the RERA rules and regulations." Is this legal? Does it mean the landlord does not have to give us a 90-day notice after 2 years if they want to increase the rent?

An interview-format article covering the topic of residential retail properties pertaining to the liability for property maintenance and the repercussions of defaulting on rent payments in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

Provisions of this Law supersede articles (2), (3), (4), (9), (13), (14), (15), (25), (26), (29), and (36) of Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. 

The provisions of this Law apply to real property leased out in the Emirate of Dubai, including vacant and agricultural lands, but excluding hotel establishments and real property provided by natural or legal persons as accommodation to their employees at no charge.

This Decree determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.